Bradley Wiggins was crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year last night after a celebration of everything great about sport in 2012.  The Tour de France and Olympic Gold Medal winner beat Jessica Ennis and Andy Murray into the minor placings after a public vote that drew 1.6 million responses.
Ireland featured in this celebration of British sport through the appearance on stage of Katie Taylor in a round up of combat sports from the Olympics and in a very timely fashion when Paudie O’Sé was remembered in a tribute to the sporting legends we have lost over the past 12 months.
Rory McIlroy disappointed as the only one of the 12 nominees for the main award not to be there in person or to be available on a line link from somewhere around the world.
It was heartening to see three members of the Paralympic team among the twelve and one of the most moving moments of the night came when Martine Wright, a survivor of the London Bomb attack that took place only 24 hours after London was awarded the games in 2005 and who went on to become a Paralympic athlete was awarded the Helen Rollason Memorial award.
Dave Brailsford won the Coaching award for his remarkable team at British Cycling and Usain Bolt took the award for Overseas Sports personality of the year.
The RTE Sports Awards take place on Sunday 23rd December.